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Category: Troma Tuesdays

  • The Girl Who Returned (1969)

    The Girl Who Returned (1969)

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    Long before he brought us The Toxic Avenger, Lloyd Kaufman was a student at Yale University majoring in Chinese studies. In 1966, Kaufman took a break from college to work in the Peace Corps as a pathfinder in Chad. After returning home, he worked as a producer on the film Rappaccini by director Robert Edelstein. Towards the end of his college career, Kaufman decided to try his hand at filmmaking, working with a $2,000 budget. Kaufman could only afford a Bolex camera that didn’t have sound sync and could only record up to 40 seconds. Most of the cast was unknown actors who haven’t appeared in anything since, though future producer Michael Herz appeared. Once filming wrapped, various east coast universities, including Yale and Harvard, screened the film for an eager audience. Now, let’s go back to 1969 and look at Kaufman’s directorial debut, The Girl Who Returned.

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    Synopsis

    In an alternate reality, the only nations left on Earth are Luxembourg, comprised of women, and Mongolia, ruled by men. Each country competes in an Olympics competition every four years to determine who controls the world. Lucy (Gretchen Herman) trains with her strict coach Geneva (Beverly Galley) to become the best runner in Luxembourg. However, Lucy feels drained and controlled by her domineering coach, so she breaks free from home. She makes her way to Mongolia, where she meets a man (Tim McClean) and instantly falls in love. While the two of them grow as a couple, the Olympics in Luxembourg is in full swing. Soon, Lucy has to decide between her newfound lover and her devotion to her home country. At least, that’s what I think is supposed to be happening in this otherwise jumbled mess of shots.

     

    Review

    Usually, I can write a review of just about any movie with relatively no trouble, even if they’re incomprehensible. However, I was utterly baffled by The Girl Who Returned and didn’t know what I could say. On the one hand, it’s a fascinating piece of Troma and Lloyd Kaufman’s career history. On the other hand, it’s one of the most confusing and indecipherable movies I’ve ever seen. Of course, not every filmmaker’s first feature will be as good as Citizen Kane or Reservoir Dogs. That said, this feels like the stereotypical student film: black and white photography, no dialogue, and non-traditional storytelling. Also, like many student films, this comes off somewhat pretentious and too ambitious for its own good. It says a lot when even Lloyd Kaufman, the film’s director, refers to the movie as “boring.”

    Since this is a silent film, judging the acting is challenging since there’s no audible dialogue. Going off of body language, much of the cast feels stiff and uninterested, like the actors have no direction. They lack the emotional expression of silent film stars like Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, or Lon Chaney. It doesn’t help that there aren’t any dialogue cards to show us what the characters are saying. The only information given to us comes from a pair of narrators who sound like they’re making things up. At 66 minutes, the film drags on and on until it abruptly ends with no clear resolution. Like I said earlier in the review, Troma completionists will probably enjoy watching this as a curiosity, but that’s it. Overall, The Girl Who Returned has its place, but I wouldn’t recommend this to Troma newcomers.

     

    Watch The Girl Who Returned on Troma Now: https://bit.ly/3qTL8XI.

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  • Blades (1989)

    Blades (1989)

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    In 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws became an instant pop culture phenomenon and ushered in the Hollywood blockbuster. Over the years, the film influenced numerous filmmakers and spawned several spoofs and knock-offs trying to capitalize on its success. One person inspired by the Spielberg classic was up-and-coming producer John Finegan, who was looking into making low-budget horror films. The son of a pro golfer, he spent much of his childhood on a golf course with a giant lawnmower. Seeing this gave Finegan the idea to make a spoof of the Spielberg classic with a lawnmower replacing the shark. During a presentation at NYU, Finegan recruited aspiring filmmakers Thomas Rondinella and Bill Pace to work on Girl School Screamers. Once they wrapped filming, Finegan assigned them to work on the Jaws parody film. In 1989, Troma Entertainment distributed the killer lawnmower movie Blades.

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    Synopsis

    At the Tall Grass Country Club, owner Norman Osgood (William Towner) is preparing for the annual golf tournament. He hires former golfer Roy Kent (Robert North) to organize the event, much to Kelly Lange’s (Victoria Scott) chagrin. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worst when several people are found dead all over the golf course. Kelly wants to cancel the tournament until they find the killer, but Norman insists the event will stay on. Norman organizes a local search party to search for whoever is responsible as the killings continue. They accuse local groundskeeper Deke Slade (Jeremy Whelan), but he insists that a rogue lawnmower is running amok. After proving to Norman what’s going on, Roy and Kelly team up with Deke to destroy the lawnmower. Just when you thought it was safe to putt, you’ll wish you stayed at the country club.

     

    Review

    Blades isn’t quite as good as Joe Dante’s Piranha as a Jaws parody, but it’s still enjoyable. People who have practically studied the 1975 film top to bottom will recognize all the scenes copied here. What helps this film stand out is that, instead of an animal attacking people, it’s a machine this time around. The idea of an ordinary lawnmower becoming sentient and killing people is a darkly comedic spin on something so familiar. Like the killer shark movie, this one uses plenty of POV shots before revealing the lawnmower in the climax. When we finally see the lawnmower, it has a monstrous yet straightforward design that’s appropriately ridiculous and threatening. There are some reasonably gruesome death scenes, though most of them consist of people getting their legs chewed off. Even still, this is arguably the best movie about a killer lawnmower for what it’s worth.

    For a low-budget horror-comedy, the cast does a primarily above-average job delivering their lines, though there aren’t many stand-outs. Perhaps the only real stand-out is Jeremy Whelan, who gives a performance that’s almost too good for this type of movie. He plays the part as if he were Robert Shaw rather than just an imitation of his Quint character. While he’s no Roy Schieder, Robert North makes a decent lead and has some interesting character flaws. In addition to filling in the Richard Dreyfuss role, Victoria Scott has some good back-and-forths with North. William Towner fills in for the Amity Island mayor, but he doesn’t have the charisma Murray Hamilton had. At slightly over 90 minutes, the film does take a while to get going, but it goes by quickly. Overall, Blades is a decent parody with above-average acting and a unique concept that B-movie fans can enjoy.

     

    Buy Blades from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zMKNsQ.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • All the Love You Cannes! (2002)

    All the Love You Cannes! (2002)

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    In 1938, French Minister of National Education Jean Zay got the idea to start an international film festival. This decision was mainly due to the Venice Film Festival’s bias towards fascism and the Nazi regime at the time. With support from the US and England, Zay chose the city of Cannes to host this new festival. Unfortunately, 1939 was when the Nazis invaded France, and it seemed that the festival was no more. Thankfully, the festival relaunched in 1946, and the Cannes International Film Festival was born on September 20, 1946. In 1959, the Marché du Film (Film Market) was founded for studios to buy and sell to foreign markets. Since Troma’s birth in the early 1970s, Lloyd Kaufman and his team have traveled to Cannes to promote their movies. To show their fans what the festival is like, Troma produced the 2002 documentary All The Love You Cannes!

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    Synopsis

    In 2001, Lloyd Kaufman and his team visited the Cannes Film Festival to try and promote their films. In particular, they were looking to drive up hype for Terror Firmer and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV. While filming the goings-on at Cannes, Lloyd provides advice and insight for those who want to attend and save money. Since the major studios spend millions of dollars promoting their movies, Troma has to go above and beyond for attention. For example, the team put on parades where they make tons of noise, hand out leaflets, and frolic half-naked. Unfortunately, the Troma team runs afoul of the hotel security and local police because of their shenanigans. Most of the blame is laid at Doug Sakmann, who’s shown getting drunk and getting himself into tons of trouble. Also, a small dog from Warner Bros. tries to start some beef with Troma.

     

    Review

    All The Love You Cannes! is an entertaining and insightful look at Cannes and the studio system in general. Much like the making-of documentaries they’ve made, this one also shows how chaotic working for Troma can be. The documentary shows the struggles Troma has to go through to get people to notice them. We’re shown the 40+ staff sleeping in an apartment made for four people, getting into drunken fights, and hassling cops. We also see some internal trouble from the Troma team, including some Tromettes being sexually harassed by locals. As mentioned above, Doug Sakmann is given most of the blame since he’s the one charged with running things. It doesn’t help that he performs stunts like stumbling around spewing blood and running outside in a Kabukiman costume. It’s the kind of pure insanity you’d expect from Troma.

    Something is endearing about these renegades going up against the bigwigs as chaotic as everything is. Troma has always been a champion of independent cinema, and they feel that the big corporations have taken over. In addition to providing sound advice, Lloyd also shows how pure showmanship can win people over to your side. Admittedly, there are times where things get so chaotic that it’s hard to follow along with what’s happening. Plus, there’s not much information about Cannes’ history, which would’ve helped add further context to the narrative being presented. Even though the documentary is almost twenty years old, many of the topics discussed are still relevant today. Also, given some of the recent things Lloyd has said about Cannes, it might’ve gotten even worse. Overall, All The Love You Cannes! is one of the most eye-opening documentaries that any aspiring filmmaker can watch.

     

    Buy All The Love You Cannes! from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3s7Lxa4.

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  • Monster in the Closet (1986)

    Monster in the Closet (1986)

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    As kids, we were fearful of monsters lurking in our bedrooms, whether under the bed or in the closet. We realize just how dumb this fear is as we get older, eventually getting over it. In 2001, Pixar tried showing us what the monsters living in our closets were doing when we weren’t sleeping. That movie was Monsters, Inc., and it showed us that not all monsters are nasty. However, years before Sully and Mike Wazowski warmed our hearts, writer/director Bob Dahlin tapped into that fear. Dahlin started the industry with the 1973 short film Norman Nurdelpick’s Suspension: A Tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. After that, he worked as an assistant director on movies like Damien: Omen II, And Justice For All, and Popeye. In 1983, Dahlin directed his only feature film, Monster In The Closet, though it wouldn’t see a release until 1986.

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    Synopsis

    In a quiet college town near San Francisco, a series of murders has the townsfolk in hysterics. Obituary writer Richard Clark (Donald Grant) is assigned to report on the recent deaths and figure out what’s happening. He meets local science teacher Diane Bennett (Denise DuBarry) and her intelligent son nicknamed ‘Professor’ (Paul Walker). Soon enough, they discover what’s responsible for the murders: a hideous monster (Kevin Peter Hall) who lives in people’s closets. Local eccentric Dr. Pennyworth (Henry Gibson) tries reasoning with the beast and gets clawed to death. General Turnbull (Donald Moffat) and his forces try to destroy the monster, but none of their weapons are successful. With seemingly no options left, our heroes have to fend for themselves against the closet-dwelling monster. But is the monster murderous, or is he misunderstood and possibly looking for love?

     

    Review

    Monster in the Closet is one of those movies whose idea is more entertaining than the movie itself. This movie isn’t what I’d call a lost Troma classic, but that’s not to say it’s all terrible. The filmmakers wanted to make a spoof of 50s monster movies, though not many jokes land. It doesn’t help either that there are several dead spots, and it takes a while for things to get going. A few gags were pretty funny, particularly a montage of people from all over the world trashing their closets. Another memorable one involves the love interest Diane in a trance whenever Richard’s glasses fall off. One thing that makes this film stand out is the cast of notable character actors, which is staggering. You’ve got appearances from Henry Gibson, Claude Akins, Stella Stevens, Howard Duff, Donald Moffat, Paul Dooley, and John Carradine.

    Another positive I can give this movie is the titular monster, which has a uniquely goofy design. Not only is its mouth constantly open, but it lets out a scream that repeats every time it’s on-screen. It even has a more petite mouth inside of its mouth, similar to the Xenomorph from Alien. I also like how there’s no explanation for what the monster is or where it came from. As I said before, tons of filler scenes drag the movie down until the monster shows up. It’s very similar to 1982’s Nightbeast, though that at least made up for it with tons of blood and gore. I’d recommend the former between the two, though this would still make for a fun bad movie night. Overall, Monster in the Closet doesn’t entirely deliver on the laughs and scares, but it has its moments.

     

    Rent Monster in the Closet on Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/3D92tyw

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  • Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 (2017)

    Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 (2017)

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    While filming Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1, director Lloyd Kaufman decided to split the film into two parts. The first part had a limited theatrical release in late 2013 that the studio expanded in 2014. While critical reception was mixed, audiences loved it, and the film was awarded at the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival. Unfortunately, during the production of the second installment, funding for the film dried up, and they couldn’t afford post-work. To help cover the post-production costs, Troma launched a Kickstarter campaign in June 2015, which raised over $60,000. After a lengthy post-production process, they screened the film at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, which became Lloyd’s last appearance. Despite the screening going well, Kaufman claimed the staff abused the Troma employees and vowed never to return. Regardless, Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 premiered in late 2019.

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    Synopsis

    Picking up from where the last movie ended, Lauren (Catherine Corcoran) gives birth to a duck-human hybrid baby. Meanwhile, Principal Westly (Babette Bombshell) blackmails her girlfriend Chrissy (Asta Paredes) to take down her blog, which she refuses. It turns out Westly got ahold of footage showing Lauren and Chrissy together from local loser Zack (Zac Amico). Local reporters hound Chrissy about this, but she uses it as an opportunity to expose the corruption of Tromaorganics Inc. Elsewhere, CEO Lee Harvey Herzkauf (Lloyd Kaufman) has been huffing farts from high school students to stay young. He plans on sharing this with some influential figures, only for his supply to run out, causing him to mutate. With their fellow students at stake, Chrissy and Lauren must stop Herzkauf while also fighting off The Cretins. Also, a fully-mutated Kevin the WonderDuck returns to protect his lovechild with Lauren.

    Review

    Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 is more of the same as the last film. There’s just as much blood, boobs, slime, and political incorrectness as the first film, if not more so. Like the last one, this one has similarly higher production values, but you’ll notice where they had to cut corners. While there are still tons of practical effects, there’s also more dodgy CGI that feels out of place. Also, tons of recycled scenes are used as flashbacks to pad out the runtime, complete with tacked-on narration. Granted, Troma was having troubles behind the scenes, and it’s admirable that they could finish this given the circumstances. Plus, some of these flaws add to the overall campy and over-the-top nature of the production. It’s just one of the many struggles surrounding independent filmmaking, especially with a Troma movie.

    Like the last one, Asta Paredes and Catherine Corcoran have great chemistry and play off of each other well. While Paredes was more the center of Part 1, Corcoran gets the spotlight as her character grows further. Zac Amico is fun as the loveable and hateable loser who wants to get back at Chrissy and Lauren. He also has a hilarious nude scene that pays homage to the infamous streaking scene from Terror Firmer. Kaufman is great as the stereotypical corporate villain, who chews up as much scenery as possible. You also get appearances from Troma alums like Debbie Rochon, Ron Jeremy, Lemmy, Joe Fleishaker, Mark Torgl, and Stan Lee. This film has plenty of gross-out gags at under ninety minutes to satisfy Troma fans, even if parts do drag. Overall, Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 is exactly like the last one, warts and all.

     

    Buy Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GU9pTz.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Return to… Return to Nuke ‘Em High AKA Vol. 2 (2017)

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  • Beware: Children At Play (1989)

    Beware: Children At Play (1989)

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    Mik Cribben has been in the industry since the 1970s, working as a soundman or a camera operator. Like many at the time, he got his start working in the adult film industry and some B-movies. He worked on notable titles like Squirm, Eyes of Laura Mars, Nightmare, and blockbuster movies like Annie and Wall Street. At some point, Cribben was working with a guy who had made a low-budget horror film about a Vietnam veteran. The two were collaborating on a new project, but the director wanted to make it a studio film. Cribben commissioned his friend Fred Sharkey to write a new screenplay using the extra money from the collaboration. On a $200,000 – $300,000 budget, Cribben and company worked on what would become one of Troma’s more controversial pictures. In late 1989, Troma distributed Cribben’s only directorial effort, Beware: Children at Play.

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    Synopsis

    During a camping trip with his son, Professor Randall (Bernard Hocke) accidentally gets his leg caught in a bear trap. After he succumbs to his wounds and dies, his son Glenn (Eric Tonken) eats him and goes insane. Ten years later, John DeWolfe (Michael Robertson) is driving with his family to New Jersey to visit some old friends. Chief among them is Ross Carr (Rich Hamilton), the local sheriff, dealing with numerous reports of missing children. Meanwhile, local farmer Isac Braun (Mik Cribben) believes Glenn is still alive and taking their children to join his cult. It turns out that Glenn is indeed living, now calling himself Grendel (Danny McClaughlin), and has been brainwashing children. As the kids carve a path through the town, John and Ross try to figure out a peaceful solution. Will John be able to rescue the kids, or will the townsfolk deliver some vigilante justice?

     

    Review

    As a whole, Beware: Children at Play is a very flat and boring movie struggling to reach feature-length. While there are a few cheesy kills here and there, most of it is just dull scenes of meaningless dialogue. It doesn’t help that much of the acting is pretty uninspired, though I’m not expecting Oscar-worthy performances here. Some notable characters include a Bible salesman with a sailor’s mouth or a psychic who loves saying “dearie” a lot. There’s also Isac Braun, played by the director, wearing some unconvincing old man makeup with powder in his hair. But aside from that, most of the characters are pretty generic, and you’ll quickly forget who’s who. Honestly, it was difficult for me to keep up with what was happening, considering how dull it was. That is until the last five minutes when all hell breaks loose, and the film earns its notoriety.

    As uninteresting as the rest of the movie is, the ending almost makes watching it worthwhile just for the carnage. What follows are five minutes of several child characters being shot down and killed in various ways. Kids get their heads blown off, stabbed with a machete, pinned to walls with pitchforks, and shot with arrows. Granted, kids getting killed in movies isn’t anything new, but the volume of child deaths is staggering. It makes sense that the trailer mostly has scenes from the last few minutes since they’re the most exciting. The ending almost warrants a viewing, but that requires sitting through so much uninteresting stuff to get there. Hardcore Troma fans will want to check this out, but otherwise, you can just watch the scene on YouTube. Overall, Beware: Children at Play is a dull experience that only gets interesting towards the end.

     

    Buy Beware: Children at Play from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mcwVmp.

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  • Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 (2013)

    Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 (2013)

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    After producing Class of Nuke ‘Em High 3: The Good, The Bad, And The Subhumanoid, Troma announced a fourth film. Entitled Battle of the Bikini Subhumanoids, they held a contest where fans could submit pages for a potential screenplay. While they had a completed script in 2000, the film never made it past pre-production and was ultimately shelved. In 2011, Troma started working on a potential fourth film in Spain with Mushnik’s Entertainment and Chaparra Entertainment as collaborators. Around this time, Anchor Bay expressed interest in remaking Troma’s movies, starting with 2010’s Mother Day. They decided to also collaborate with Troma over a sequel/reboot to their Class of Nuke ‘Em High series. Filming began in 2012, and at some point, Lloyd Kaufman decided to split the film in half. As a result, Troma released Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 in fall 2013.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”80″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.11.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.11.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.11.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.11.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    After the destruction of the Tromaville Nuclear Power Plant, the Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate has risen in its place. Young blogger Chrissy (Asta Paredes) investigates its shady practices while the company promotes its healthy and organic food, young blogger Chrissy (Asta Paredes) investigates their deceptive practices. Her personal life isn’t so great, particularly with her horned-up boyfriend Eugene (Clay von Carlowitz) obsessed with finally getting laid. Meanwhile, new student Lauren (Catherine Corcoran) isn’t making too many friends, given her wealthy upbringing. Chrissy, in particular, bullies her for it, but as they spend more time together, they begin realizing something about themselves. One day, the school serves “organic” tacos with radioactive meat, transforming the Glee Club into a new batch of Cretins. As they begin terrorizing the school, Chrissy and Lauren must fend off The Cretins while also dealing with their romance. School’s in session, and it’s one hell of a semester!

     

    Review

    I couldn’t help but notice the numerous similarities between this and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV. Both are the fourth installment, both ignore the previous films’ events, and Stan Lee narrates both. Also, both cover similar taboo issues, particularly school shootings, which makes me concerned about our society. There are also some similarities with Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, namely how no one is free from ridicule. There’s the stereotypically evil corporation, the self-righteous liberal blogger, and the school’s blase nature towards mass shootings. Not to mention that all subtlety is thrown entirely out the window when it comes to satire. All of this is mixed with Troma’s bread and butter: blood, nudity, gore, sex, slime, viscera, and lack of taste. It’s a winning formula that’s helped Troma survive for more than 40 years, and it more than works here.

    Troma is typically known for, among other things, exaggeratedly over-the-top performances, but some of the ones here are annoying. Clay von Carlowitz comes off particularly grating, but to be fair, he’s not playing a likable character. By comparison, Asta Paredes and Catherine Corcoran play their roles straight, ironic given their characters’ arc. They have solid chemistry with each other, and it’s fun contrasting Asta’s sarcastic demeanor against Catherin’s more naive personality. The Cretins are similar to the original ones, but they’re entertaining, especially the Cretin who uses a wheelchair. While there are some pretty solid practical effects, some less-than-stellar digital shots pop up here and there, though that’s forgivable. At roughly 90 minutes, the film gets in and out relatively quickly, and the cliffhanger leaves you wanting more. Overall, Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 is a fun follow-up to the original cult classic.

     

    Buy Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BGoh4Q.

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  • Screamplay (1985)

    Screamplay (1985)

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    Rufus Butler Seder had an affinity for films from an early age, thanks in part to his father. He studied at the American Film Institute and received tons of acclaim for his experimental short films. At some point, Seder wanted to make a biopic about Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, but that never happened. With no projects lined up, Seder dug up an old script he had written in the late 1970s. The screenplay took inspiration from his experiences in Hollywood, especially some odd neighbors he had in his apartment complex. On a budget of roughly $50,000, Seder set up the Boston Black and White Movie Company to work on this. He and his team did almost all of the in-camera effects, including front projection and forced perspective. Though New Line Cinema showed interest, Troma ultimately acquired the rights and released the film in 1985 as Screamplay.

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    Synopsis

    Struggling writer Edgar Allen (Rufus Butler Seder) moves to Hollywood with dreams to make a name for himself. Unfortunately, Edgar gets mugged on his first day in Tinseltown, and a stranger kills the mugger right after. The killer is Martin (George Kuchar), a sleazy landlord who hires Edgar as a custodian if he keeps silent. Edgar spends his nights writing murder stories in his spare time, many inspired by what happens around him. His neighbors include aging actress Nina Ray (Linda Robinson), prophet/rocker Lot (Bob White), and aspiring actress Holly (Katy Bolger). Before long, people start dying in ways that are eerily similar to the scenarios Edgar writes, which raises suspicion. Officers Tony Cassano (Basil J. Bova) and Joe Blatz (George Cordeiro) are investigating, and all signs point to Edgar. Has the struggling writer finally lost it, or is there someone else responsible?

     

    Review

    Screamplay is one of those films where the people behind it are wearing their influences on their sleeves. They drive this further by showing clips from Nosferatu, The Golem, and Cabinet of Dr. Caligari so that you know. Thankfully, the filmmakers use their influences to tell a creative and unique story rather than just recycling something similar. Rufus Butler Seder gives a wonderfully exaggerated performance as struggling screenwriter Edgar Allen, who can be both likable and creepy. Whenever we see him going mad, his manic expressions remind me of silent actors like Lon Chaney and Conrad Veidt. The film was shot entirely in black and white that both pays tribute and adds a sense of dread. The film sometimes feels like a nightmare come to life with all the twisted shadows and warped perspective. For such a small budget, they were able to pull off quite a bit.

    What also helps this stand out are all the side characters, each just as memorable and weird as Edgar. You’ve got the washed-up B-movie actress trying to cling onto whatever youth she has left by constantly making herself up. Then there’s Lot, a stoned-out rockstar who prophesies about the evils of Hollywood and partakes in some holistic remedies. Even the seemingly pure and innocent Holly has her quirks, namely that she’ll do anything to be an actress. Of course, there’s plenty of over-the-top deaths and even some nudity, but it’s all reasonably tame even by Troma standards. This movie is more psychological, so people expecting an all-out gore and tit fest might be disappointed. However, if you consider yourself a Troma fan, you really should give this sadly forgotten shocker a chance. Overall, Screamplay is both a loving homage to Old Hollywood but also a wonderfully grim and dark thriller.

     

    Buy Screamplay from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XW0DCf.

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  • Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)

    Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)

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    Around 2002, aspiring filmmaker Daniel Bova submitted a spec script to Troma Entertainment for consideration, which saw various re-writes. Gabriel Friedman, a long-time editor for Troma, completed a final draft in 2004 under Poultrygeist: Attack of the Chicken Zombies. After failing to acquire funding, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz had to pay out of pocket for the film’s budget. With a budget of roughly $500,000, Troma managed to acquire hundreds of volunteer crew over the internet. Filming primarily took place at an abandoned McDonald’s in Buffalo, NY, with additional filming in a local church. Unfortunately, like any Troma film, this one was plagued with production problems, including pay disputes and malfunctioning special effects. Despite all the issues, filming wrapped in August of 2005, and the film premiered in New York the following year. It wouldn’t be until 2007 that Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead would see a limited release.

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    Synopsis

    While Arbie (Jason Yachanin) has to stay behind for his family, his girlfriend Wendy (Kate Graham) is bound for college. They’re reunited one college semester later, except it turns out Wendy is now dating Micki (Allyson Sereboff). The two of them are protesting against the American Chicken Bunker, a fast food restaurant built on an Indian graveyard. To get back at Wendy, Arbie decides to get a job at ACB and meets the manager Denny (Joshua Olatunde). Unbeknownst to the staff, the spirits of the chickens and Native Americans are seeking revenge against their oppressors. General Lee Roy (Robin L. Watkins) tries quelling the protestors, but Native American chicken zombies soon invade the restaurant. As our heroes scramble for survival, Arbie and Wendy manage to rekindle their romance and grow as people. But will they survive, or will they be the next meal for these flesh-eating fowl fiends?

     

    Review

    Troma is known for making wildly crazy movies, but Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead might be their craziest yet. Honestly, even just describing some of the insanity packed into this film would be doing it a disservice. While many films have at least one memorable moment, they pack tons of special moments into their runtime. Every scene stands out, from an overweight man coating a bathroom in diarrhea to a guy becoming a sandwich. There is an overabundance of bodily fluids everywhere in typical Troma fashion, including blood, shit, slime, and everything in between. Also, in the spirit of Troma, there’s some great social commentary about the fast-food industry and corporate greed. Admittedly, there’s some dated humor straight out of the mid-2000s, but those moments are few and far between. If nothing else, this movie will make you think twice about going out to order some fast food.

    The cast all play their parts in an exaggerated way that’s funny and genuine without being obnoxious. Jason Yachanin is loveable as the dopey-eyed guy working to win his girl back while trying to survive this situation. Kate Graham has terrific chemistry with Jason, and she’s also sweet as the naive girl wanting to make a difference. Each ACB staff member stands out, including the flamboyant Paco Bell, the Islamic stereotype Hummus, and the hillbilly Carl Jr. Even though he’s pretty much the stereotypical corporate villain, Robin L. Watkins is charming as the enigmatic General. Plus, there are some appearances from Troma veterans Joe Fleishaker, Ron Jeremy, and Debbie Rochon. The film has musical numbers, and while some are better than others, they add to the film’s campy charm. Overall, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead may not be for everyone, but it’s a must for horror-comedy fans.

    One final note: if you decide to watch this, consider also watching the documentary Poultry in Motion. It’s easily one of the best behind-the-scenes documentaries you’ll ever see, and it’s worth a watch all on its own.

     

    Buy Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3E7YAvI.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)

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  • Redneck Zombies (1989)

    Redneck Zombies (1989)

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    Having grown up in the Baltimore area, Pericles Lewnes knew that he always wanted to be a filmmaker. With his friends Ed Bishop and Bill Decker, he decided to work on something that could be gory and slapstick. They came up with the title Redneck Zombies, and from there, started brainstorming various ideas for gags and gore effects. Working on a very shoestring budget, they said that the film should play more like a parody than something serious. Towards the end of filming, Lewnes saw The Toxic Avenger at a local theater and fell in love with Troma. He took the film to Troma and made a distribution deal, which led to Lewnes working for the company. Lewnes got to work on Troma’s War, The Toxic Avenger Parts 2 & 3, and Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. Finally, in early 1989, Lewnes’ Redneck Zombies was released to video store shelves.

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    Synopsis

    While driving through the backwoods, a soldier named Tyrone Robinson (Tyrone Taylor) accidentally loses a barrel of toxic waste. A family of moonshiners, the Clemsons, finds the barrel and decides to use it for their still. Meanwhile, some young people are hiking through the woods for a camping trip led by Wilbur (James H. Housely). One night, the young people get high on weed while the local rednecks drink the radioactive moonshine the Clemsons made. Unfortunately, the following day, the rednecks who drank the moonshine have turned into flesh-eating zombies wandering through the woods. As the zombies tear their way through the area, the remaining campers, including Lisa Dubois (Lisa M. DeHaven), try surviving. The drugged-out Bob (Anthony Burlington-Smith) discovers that deodorant kills the zombies, but will that be enough to stop them? It’s a good old-fashioned hoedown of horror as our heroes try surviving the Redneck Zombies!

     

    Review

    Redneck Zombies is one of those movies that you should go into with shallow expectations before watching it. With a title like that, you really shouldn’t go into this thinking it’s going to be a terrifying zombie film. This film has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek and wants you to laugh along with it. There are plenty of over-the-top performances, a ridiculous story, and tons of gore like any good Troma movie. On that note, the gore effects are surprisingly decent given the meager budget they had on hand. Admittedly, the make-up effects are pretty cheesy, but the filmmakers were fully aware and are rolling with it. Seeing many people with black eye makeup and putty-covered faces stumbling around has a charming quality to it. As goofy as most of the film is, there are some genuinely sickening scenes in the last few minutes. It’s a mixed bag.

    Given that the filmmakers were trying to make a fun, cheesy monster movie, it seems pointless to critique this seriously. For instance, the movie was shot on video instead of on film since it’s much cheaper than using film. Also, don’t expect deep characterization or a richly compelling story since the filmmakers weren’t concerned about that. Still, there are tons of filler scenes, and several of the jokes don’t land quite as well as they hoped. Plus, some of the more exaggerated performances can get grating at times, but it seems intentional given their ultimate fate. Thankfully, at just slightly under 90 minutes in length, the movie won’t take up too much of your time. If you’re looking for a fun bad movie to watch with some friends and some drinks, look no further. Overall, Redneck Zombies is no Night of the Living Dead, but it doesn’t have to be.

     

    Buy Redneck Zombies from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UKMOW8.

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